this soaking solution is my go to when i have set in stains that don't come out with traditional methods (i will be posting those tomorrow). i have to say that it almost always works.
last week i went over to my sisters house, and saw a pile of clothes in her trash can. i thought that maybe they had just fell in from the counter, but no. she told me that they were stained and she had tried cleaning them multiple times with no luck. so i gathered them up and brought them home. i thought i'd give my old soaking solution a try. well guess what...it worked!!!!
you know how when you open saved baby clothes and yellow stains have appeared on them. i used this solution on my baby clothes before i packed them away, and when i got them out for baby there were no stains. and when i do find old stains, i mix up a batch of my solution, toss a bunch of clothes in, and by the next day they are beautiful.
so, here is the soaking solution....
Oxy Clean + Dawn Dishwashing liquid + Biz + Cascade Dishwasher detergent. yep....all four of these. seems like a lot, but they each have special functions that seem to fight my stains everytime. the Dawn helps get out the oils and greases, the Cascade gets out the enzymes and protein stains, Biz helps whiten and brighten the colors, and the Oxy Clean seems to make the whole solution work.
• use a 2-3 gallon size bucket or large tupperware (my mom uses her sink). fill it up with warm or hot water. i then put in all four of the soaps. i don't have exact measurements.....i kind of just put a bunch in. probably at least a cup of the Oxy Clean and Biz, ½ - ¾ cup of Cascade and ⅓ cup of Dawn. if you are using a larger container, use more soap.
• then, mix it all up. let all the soap crystals dissolve in the warm water. once it is all dissolved, put your clothes in. if you are using colors, make sure the water has cooled down. you also want to make sure that you don't put to many clothes into the solution. you should still be able to stir the clothes around in the water.
• let clothes soak. i usually let them soak overnight. every so often i stir the clothes around and make sure nothing is bleeding. the next morning i go through and pull out the ones that are clean and put them in the washer. i leave in the ones that need more soaking, and add more Oxy Clean. this helps boost the solution again. sometimes it can take a few days (even 5) for the stain to release. be patient....it almost always works.
this solution has been wonderful on chocolate, baby spit-up/poopies, the yellowing around baby shirt necks where they drool, food stains and for overall brightening of clothes that can't be bleached. i have even been successful at removing huge mold stains by letting the clothes soak for 2 weeks and just adding more Oxy Clean each day. however, i haven't had good luck on ink....hairspray works on that.
NOTE: reds and dark colors can sometimes bleed, so keep an eye out for that. i usually do a solution for my lights, and one for my colors. Also, you don't have to use Cascade brand dishwasher detergent.....but don't use the really cheap non-brand stuff.
good luck!!!!!
Hope
WOW! Can't wait to try this!!
Dawn
I tried your soaking solution this week on a few items. I even threw in some of my boys stained white socks. I have to say...I was AMAZED! First of all, without your prompting, I would have never let them sit so many days (I left them in about 5). And, I was a little worried because the green-tinted Dawn I used seem to tint everything a little green. But, with some rinsing and a little bleach, the socks are almost as white as they were coming out of the package. Way cool!
Kassy
There is a clear dawn
Heather and Spencer
I bought the Dawn Pure Essentials so I wouldn't have to worry about the dye tinting anything and it has been less than 24 hours and it is working like a charm! Thanks Jill!
Kristen
I can not wait to try this!! I wish I had only found it sooner. My two kids (3.5yrs & 16 months) are little stain magnets 🙂
Donelle Anderson
Does it have to be Biz or can you use any stain fighter detergent?
It's me!....Jill
I think you have to use biz...or maybe another color safe bleach.
Jennifer
I tried this out on an area rug that the dog ruined. Soaked the rug overnight in a rug bag, then hosed it off and hung it to dry Miracle! The rug looks and smells brand new. Thank you 🙂
Lisa {Sweet 2 Eat Baking}
Ooo, this is fantastic. I can't wait to try it. However, I'm in the UK and we don't have the brands you have over the pond. I've found substitutes for everything other than the Biz. I.e. oxy = Vanish oxy action, Dawn = any dish washing up liquid, Cascade = any biological washing powder.
Could you email me what ingredients the Biz has in it so I'm able to find a substitute. I also admit to throwing a hell of a lot of my 3 children's clothes in the bin which depressed me from felt tip pen crayon stains.
-Lisa.
Sweet 2 Eat Baking
Sandy Toes and Popsicles
Lisa,
Biz is a stain fighter and booster for whites & colors. it says it contains biodegradable sufactants, enzymes, sodium percarbonate, sodium carbonate, sodium silocate & fabric brightening agent. Hmm?
Anonymous
In my opinion, it would make your blog come to life a little bit.
omar
ive been doing this for over TEN years .its cheaper to just double up on BIZ ...its oxiclean with added boosting agents plus enzymes......oxiclean is overpriced and i just dont buy it.
Chemistry is good. anything with bleach should not be added to anything with oxygen type cleaners...
in high concentrations is dangerous to add OxiClean to bleach in low concentration or average concentrations bleach and oxyclean react releasing chlorine gas and oxygen gas. if those two chemicals cancel each other out they are not cleaning for you
Mark
I used to live in the UK. Biz is the equivalent to Biotex stain removing powder. Its an enzymatic cleaner.
Ginny Jolly
I think you mean phosgene. When you put an acid like vinegar with chlorine bleach--or even use ammonia with chlorine, there's a reaction that creates phosgene which irritates the lungs horribly. It was used in one of the world wars (first, I think) as chemical warfare.
The reaction of oxide ions from Oxiclean also acts like vinegar and ammonia, and mixing it with chlorine bleach should be avoided.
TKR
This mixture doesn’t have that kind of chemical reaction. I’ve been using it for 10 years. The products in the states are different than overseas - even the same
Brand and assuming same product.
Janet
Hi I have a coat that has a lot of grime on the front and cuffs. Do you think if I made the mixture in my washer that I would be able to soak the coat that way?
Caren
I had pillow shams with mildew stains on the back and I was at a loss to know how to get them out. My go to stain remover was Fels Naphtha soap, but it didn't even lighten the stains. I didn't want to use bleach because of the color quilted pattern on the front side of the shams....so I tried your solution and let them soak overnight... the next morning the stains were completely gone without a trace and the colors on the front side were still as bright as ever! I had my doubts, but am now convinced how well this solution works....it was truly amazing and I am so happy my shams look as good as new! Thank you so much for this awesome laundry tip!!
meL
Can you use powder biz for this?
Jill
yes!
mel
Does any biz work? Should it be powder vs. not? Does any oxi clean? Why are there soo many options for them?! LOL
Tanya
Most types of Cascade contain bleach! Bleach + Oxiclean are chemically not friends! Please advise!
Tanya
Most types of Cascade have bleach in them! Bleach + oxiclean are chemically not friends! Please advise!
Tanya
Sorry — didn’t mean for that to post twice. In the morning, it looked like it hadn’t gone through from my phone.
I might be a liar. 😅 Just found that Cascade Complete as well as Free & Clear don’t contain bleach. So we’re trying it! Thanks!
Cat
Jill,
A super late comment, years later but would you use this warm/hot mixture on cold water fabrics? If so, would you mix it first, let it cool, then use it?
Also, I'm assuming if you think the dye might run would you skip? or put it in it's own stand alone soaking container.
I'm horrible at laundry and am trying to get better at 64. My 90-year old mother won't be around much longer to fix my mistakes. Thank you.
Cat
I see in your instructions that fabrics that might run should be soaked in cooler water. I'll try that for my 'wash in cold water' fabrics.
Thank you.
eliza
Ink -- alcohol works wonders!
eliza
Rubbing alcohol, that is! Most generic ink pen inks disappear on contact.